God’s Covenant with David – Adult STS Lesson 237
“And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever”
2 Samuel 7:16 (Memory Verse)
Introduction
David brought back the ark of God to Jerusalem in the preceding chapter and began to enjoy a reign of peace and rest from all his enemies. While ruminating on the divine presence and mercies that he had enjoyed, both in times of war and peace, he broached the idea of building a temple for God. However, that same night, God came to prophet Nathan and gave him a message for David. He was told that as noble as his plans were, he did not have the Lord’s approval. God had another plan for him and his posterity that far exceeded what he had conceived.
God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8,9). Thus, we learn to commit all our ways into His hands and trust Him to fulfil all He has promised us.
GRATEFUL CONCERN FOR A BEFITTING PLACE OF WORSHIP
2 Samuel 7:1-3; 1 Chronicles 17:1,2; Proverbs 11:14; Nehemiah 1:3; 2:17-20; Haggai 1:4,8; Psalm 69:9; John 2:14-17
“And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains” (2 Samuel 7:1,2). Though God chose and anointed David to be king over Israel, he went through trials, temptations and hardship. His ascendancy to the throne would have been practically impossible, given the array of forces and obstacles that confronted him. While ruminating on his travails and numerous divine interventions that brought him from tending the sheep to the throne, David thought it right to use his moment of peaceful reign to serve God by way of building a befitting place for His ark. He wanted to reciprocate divine goodness by doing something for His glory. Thus, he considered it wrong to dwell in a stately palace while the ark of God dwelt within curtains.
Grateful souls who have enjoyed divine benevolence should look for opportunities to serve God. He is not happy when His children are indifferent to building a befitting place of worship for Him. “Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste?… Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it… Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house” (Haggai 1:4,9). Believers whom God has lifted up to greater heights in life should use their privileged positions and fortunes for the glory of God and the expansion of His kingdom, rather than live to please themselves only.
However, David did not embark on this noble plan without consulting the Lord; he sought prophet Nathan’s counsel. He understood that “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). We should seek godly counsel when necessary to receive guidance, whether in the choice of career, marriage, projects, property acquisition and others. From Nathan’s wrong approval and God’s eventual revelation of His mind, Christian leaders should learn that it is important to lean on God as they carry out divine assignments. Samuel made a similar mistake when he was sent to anoint David to replace Saul. Thus, ministers should be patient and pray so as not to mislead those who come for counsel.
GOD’S COVENANT WITH DAVID AND HIS POSTERITY
2 Samuel 7:4-17; 1 Chronicles 17:3-15; 2 Chronicles 21:7; 7:18; Isaiah 9:6,7; 55:3; Matthew 9:27; Psalm 89:3,4,28,29
God said to Nathan, “Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in.” The execution of the project was to be handled by his son, Solomon, who said, “…the LORD said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart: Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name” (2 Chronicles 6:8,9; 1 Kings 8:18). God reserves the right to reject or approve our good intentions.
Prior to the revelation of His covenant, God reminded David of his humble beginning as a shepherd boy and how divine benevolence lifted him to the throne, granted him success and victory over all enemies, bestowed the divine presence on him and made him a great name (verses 8,9). He also spoke about granting his beloved people of Israel a permanent settlement and protection from their enemies. He ensured that they possessed the land of Canaan and settled in a nation that could not be conquered by surrounding enemy nations.
With the revelation of the past and present favour bestowed on David and His plan for the children of Israel, God made a covenant of mercy with him saying, “…I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever” (2 Samuel 7:12-16). This is referred to as the Davidic covenant, which God made with David and his posterity.
A covenant is a legal or contractual agreement between two or more parties with conditions for its execution. God’s covenant with David had both immediate and future fulfilment. One, the “seed” of David who would build a house found immediate fulfilment in Solomon who built a temple in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 17:11; 22:9,10; 28:6). But a more perfect fulfilment was in Christ who was called the Son of David (Matthew 1:1; 9:27; Luke 1:32). Two, Solomon built a physical temple but Christ came to build spiritual temples for God’s dwelling (1 Kings 8:17-20; Zechariah 6:12,13; 2 Corinthians 6:16). Three, Solomon was enthroned king over the kingdom of Israel but Christ, the “Son of David”, was crowned the King of kings and shall reign literally in the millennial kingdom. He shall reign forever (Isaiah 9:6,7).
Four, it is a covenant of perpetual, unceasing and “sure mercies of David” (Isaiah 55:3) which Solomon enjoyed. It also relates to Christ’s work of redemption which penitent and sincere seekers would receive through divine mercy. It was this unfailing mercy in the Davidic covenant that two blind men requested when they cried, “Thou Son of David, have mercy on us” (Matthew 9:27). Five, God promised to chastise David’s seed if he disobeyed Him. Nonetheless, all Israel shall be saved at the second coming of the Lord. Christ, the seed of David, only bore chastisement for the sins of mankind for the sole purpose of our redemption.
Moreover, the Scripture reveals that God raised Christ as the promised Seed of David to be our Saviour; “Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead… he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:23,34,38,39).
Therefore, forgiveness of sin, justification, salvation, healing, deliverance, righteousness, sanctification, Holy Spirit baptism and innumerable blessings have been procured by Christ for all and are obtainable only by mercy and grace through the Davidic covenant. Besides, believers shall also reign with Christ in His millennial kingdom. The literal reign of David and Solomon ended long ago but the blessings of the covenant will be enjoyed forever by those who believe in Jesus Christ.
GRACIOUS APPRECIATION TO GOD AND PETITION FOR CONTINUED FAVOUR
2 Samuel 7:18-29; 1 Chronicles 17:16-27; Psalm 102:18,28; Ezekiel 36:37; 2 Corinthians 3:5; Ephesians 2:8,9
After receiving this covenant from God through Nathan, David appreciated His goodness. “Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?… Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears” (verses 18,22). David was full of praises to God because he knew that he could not have attained his present status without Him. He affirmed that he was raised from a humble background to great honours. Likewise, we should never think our achievements were by our own merit (2 Corinthians 3:5); but by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8,9).
Afterwards, David prayed to God to confirm the covenant made unto him. “And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said. And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee” (verses 25,26). As he pleaded with God to perform His promises, believers should claim His promises through the prayer of faith. Though God has committed Himself to fulfilling His promises, He requires that we pray for their fulfilment. “Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them…” (Ezekiel 36:37).
God has made great provisions pertaining to life and godliness through Christ and has given us precious promises through which we can enjoy them. We need to acquaint ourselves with His promises concerning various areas of our lives and pray to claim them. He fulfils His promises to those who believe and trust His faithfulness. He answered David’s prayer and fulfilled His promises in the covenant through the incarnation of Christ (Luke 1:30-33).
As God made a covenant of mercy with David, so will He make with everyone who establishes a relationship with Him. Those who seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness will enjoy all other provisions. His promises of abundant life of holiness, dominion, healing and health, deliverance, protection, provision and heaven, are available for appropriation by all believers.
Questions for Review
- What was David’s concern in the text and how does that apply to believers?
- Mention lessons from David’s proposal to build a house for God.
- Explain God’s covenant with David in the text.
- Explain the double fulfilment of the Davidic covenant through his seed and how we can benefit from it.
- What is the secret behind David’s attitude of humility?
- How do we appropriate God’s blessings in our lives?
- What should be a believer’s response to God’s kindness in his or her life?